NEWS 7 Home electrical focus Drain funds request Residents urge government to support network PROMINENT Millicent and district residents have called on the State Government to adequately fund maintenance of the South East drainage network. John Andre AM, John Mullins, David Loxton and John Drew are among the 32 individuals and organisations who made their views known to the community panel which recently probed the issue. Mr Andre said he could see no reason why the government should not continue to take responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of its own asset in the same way that business people take responsibility for the maintenance of their assets. “Any attempt to sheet responsibility for the maintenance of this state asset onto selected individuals or a selected group of people within South Australia would not only be inappropriate, but impossible to arrange, as a previous government discovered,” Mr Andre wrote. “Being a huge network designed for the benefit of the state, not individuals or communities, it has clearly benefited some land, but over drained other land and community wetlands. “So, by definition, it is not an asset you can allocate benefit and compensation to individual persons and communities.” Mr Drew said the government was treating the South East region differently to the metropolitan area, despite the fact that it is an important economic powerhouse that drives the prosperity of South Australia. “In my opinion, the community panel should vigorously reject any attempt to shift the financial responsibility to South Easterners,” Mr Drew said. “South East taxpayers contribute to city buses and trains and we have none. aged highways carrying timber for the now foreign-owned forests and our locally-funded sporting facilities? “The community panel should present a report that expresses the need for the State Government to identify the cost of bringing the drainage scheme to a satisfactory standard and then budget from state coffers to achieve this. “This would no doubt requite the development of a long-term plan with a commitment for necessary funds.” Mr Mullins said the South East Water Conservation and Drainage Board was now obliged to manage a number of environmental projects across the region, but without any additional funds from the government. “These environmental benefits UNFAIR: Millicent resident John Drew believes the State Government is favouring the metropolitan area. This begs the questions about who are the custodians and who are the beneficiaries of such healthy environments ... due consideration of these questions establishes that there is clearly a public benefit that reaches far beyond the South East John Mullins “The Adelaide transport system is a subsidy for metro workers. “May we now discount our taxes for city transport, our limited access to high-level healthcare and education, our truck-dam- are not only of local value, but of state, national and international significance,” Mr Mullins wrote. “This begs the questions about who are the custodians and who are the beneficiaries of such healthy environments. “Due consideration of these ques- tions establishes that there is clearly a public benefit that reaches far beyond the South East.” Mr Loxton said he wanted the government to find a fair solution to the funding situation. “Let us not have some stupid, illogical solution that rips off rural dwellers to save others,” Mr Loxton said. “If the State Government cannot find a pathetic extra $3m or $4m to fund a very important contribution to the state, then the answer is simple. “Put an extra levy on all vehicle registrations to raise what is needed. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Need to know what’s happening? Go to www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au Upcoming Events List your event: events@wattlerange.sa.gov.au APRIL THURSDAY 9 • • FRIDAY 10 • Seniors Online, 10am-12pm, Millicent Public Library. Baby Bounce, 11.15am, Millicent Public Library. Seniors Online, 10am-12pm, Millicent Public Library. • EMMA, 9.30am – 10.30am, Salvation Army Hall. • • • ChiBall Gentle Moves, 10.30am – 11.30am Terry & Jool, 8pm, Grand Hotel. Golf Club Quiz Night, 7pm, Millicent Football Club. SATURDAY 11 • MONDAY 13 • Kalangadoo Farmers Market, 10am - 1pm, Eliza Street. Zumba Gold, 9am – 9.45am, Salvation Army Hall. • EMMA, 10am – 11am, Salvation Army Hall. TUESDAY 14 • EMMA, 9.30am – 10.30am, Recreation Hall, Beachport. • Tai Chi/Qigong, 10.45am-11.45am, Recreation Hall, Beachport. WEDNESDAY 15 • THURSDAY 16 • • • FRIDAY 17 • School Holiday Activities, Millicent Library. Seniors Online, 10am-12pm, Millicent Public Library. Baby Bounce, 11.15am, Millicent Public Library. School Holiday Activities, Millicent Library. Seniors Online, 10am-12pm, Millicent Public Library. • EMMA, 9.30am – 10.30am, Salvation Army Hall. • • ChiBall Gentle Moves, 10.30am – 11.30am. Terry & Jool, 8pm, Grand Hotel. FUNDS NEEDED: Millicent and district residents believe funding of drain maintenance is the responsibility of the State Government. www.thesoutheasterntimes.com.au The South Eastern Times, Thursday, April 9, 2015 - 7 HOMES built before the 1980s may contain dangerous wiring that could kill, according to Energy Safe Victoria. Energy Safe’s safety director Paul Fearon said old wiring and switchboards were not designed to cope with modern usage levels and appliances like flat screen televisions, computers and air conditioners. “Wiring doesn’t last forever and it definitely needs to be checked and upgraded if more than 30 years old,” he said. GAIN SKILLS FOR A HEALTHIER LIFE Learn about the benefi ts of exercise for your mind and body. Find out about the different types of exercise available for you. Discover what healthy eating is and how to read food labels. Apply now, short course: * Gain new skills for a healthier lifestyle Fee free When: Tuesdays, 28 April – 19 May 2015 10.00am to 2.00pm Where: TAFE SA Millicent Campus *This course is funded through the State Government’s Small Regional Community Funding initiative. Eligibility criteria, course admission requirements and incidental costs may apply. For further information contact Mirga P: 8735 1586 or E: mirga.lindner@tafesa.edu.au Visit: tafesa.edu.au RTO code: 41026 665500 4966536